Which President Did George H.W. Bush Just Subtweet?

Former first lady Barbara Bush was hospitalized on Tuesday for a respiratory problem. Her husband, George H.W. Bush, decided to tweet about how she's apparently feeling better, especially after some nice well-wishes from former and current presidents. That's where the trouble begins:

Barbara thanks @BarackObama & @billclinton for their get-well wishes and is heeding their advice. Doesnt happen w every President she knows!

Former President Jimmy Carter. Odds: 45 to 1.

Carter doesn't seem to have quite have the same relationship to the Bushes that former Democratic president Bill Clinton does, though it's technically possible that H.W.'s omission here is supposed to refer to Carter. That is also a somewhat popular interpretation on Twitter, especially for those leaning right of center:

None of the Above: His own wife, Barbara Bush. Odds: 3 to 1.

AP

Bush the Elder's tweet is definitely a joke at someone's expense, and we think it's most likely that the former president was poking fun at his own wife (and himself). Both presidential subtweet interpretations above assume that the emphasis should be on the first part of Bush's tweet: "Barbara thanks @BarackObama & @billclinton for their get-well wishes." But we think the emphasis goes on the latter part: "and is heeding their advice." As you might have heard, Barbara Bush is a little bit strong willed. H.W. was probably referring to the fact that Barbara isn't always keen on listening to advice from her husband, despite his excellent taste in socks. But she took the advice of Clinton and Obama, which was to get well. Ha ha. Joke (probably!) explained, you're welcome.

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.

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